No7 Mini Haul and First Impressions

on -
March 05, 2017

If I'm honest, I haven't always paid much attention to the No7 stands in Boots, but after the event I attended with Hartburn Village WI (I do their digital media, so check out the post I wrote about the event here), I just can't seem to get enough. After using my Beautifully Matte Light foundation pretty much every day for the past couple of months, I finally started to run low, so I scheduled in a trip to my local Boots to pick up some more. When I got there, I was so pleased to see that they were running a 3 for 2 offer over a bunch of their makeup products and I just couldn't resist the opportunity to try some new things! After having a good browse and a lot of sighing from an impatient boyfriend, I made my choices. After wearing each of them, I'm ready to let you know my feelings about them all!

Even though I originally went to pick up a new bottle of the Beautifully Matte Light foundation, I ended up walking away with a bottle of the Stay Perfect instead (£14.50) in my shade, Cool Vanilla. For real, if you haven't been and had your shade matched, you really should! It's totally opened my eyes to the colours that look best on me and the foundations I should stay away from. But anyway, the reason I came away with Stay Perfect was because I'd heard so many good things about it and it's apparently great for all skin types, even oily and combination. This is a pretty big claim, so I was eager to put it to the test.

First thing's first, I love the weighty, frosted glass bottle. It makes the whole thing feel very luxurious and a whole lot more expensive than it actually is. I squirted a couple of pumps on to my hand (yep, it has a pump - hygiene fans, rejoice!) and was surprised by how runny it was, considering it was for all skin types. I applied it with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, and I was really quite worried when I saw how moisturising it was. Before it set down, it was quite shiny, and as someone with combination skin and a nose that gets SUPER oily, this is not what I wanted. However, it did set down after a little while and became slightly less shiny. I used the Perfect Light Loose Powder over the top (which I'll get on to in a minute) which helped to matte it down, but still left me looking a little glowy, which was perfect! I will admit, it looked really great and felt weightless. It looked just like skin and not cakey at all, which is something that I struggle with as I tend to go for matte foundations. I wore the foundation all day at work, which is just over 8 hours, and it definitely held up! While my nose and the area around my nostrils had become super oily, but my cheeks, forehead and chin still looked great. It even held up around my eyes, which is usually a place that creases like crazy. I was quite impressed, considering it claims that it's for all skin types, but I think next time, I'll mix it with a matte foundation to try and prevent my shiny nose.

Next up, I went for the Perfect Light Loose Powder (£10.50) in Translucent, as I've actually never used a loose powder for my face before, so I was really intrigued to see how it worked. After my foundation had set down, I tapped a little of the powder into the lid and used a large, fluffy brush to apply it to my skin. The powder actually comes with a puff that you can use to apply it with, but I'm just not a huge fan of them. However, after using this powder, I think I'm converted! It applied so smoothly and didn't leave me looking cakey (which is something that I find if I'm a little too heavy-handed with my Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder). It was super lightweight and as I chose the translucent powder, it didn't make me look orange or dirty. It complemented the foundation perfectly and gave my skin a smooth, more matte look while still allowing a little glow to seep through. I really think this is something that contributed to the foundation holding up so well, so I'm definitely going to be purchasing this again!And finally, my free product was a Match Made Powder Blush (£9) in Apricot Blossom. If you've explored the No7 stands, you'll know that there are cards that correspond to the different skin shades. On these cards, you'll be able to see products that work well with that skin tone, and as someone that never wears blush (I have the rosiest cheeks and most of the time, I just want them covered up), I thought I'd step out of my comfort zone and pick one up. I'll be honest, the photo above makes the blush look super duper pink - I promise it's not. I didn't want to go for a crazy colour for my first step into the blush life, so I went for Apricot Blossom, which is quite soft pink. There were a few options that matched my skin tone, but this was the one that swatched the nicest and the one that was the least offensive, in my opinion. Once I'd completed the majority of my base makeup and my eye makeup, I went in with my Nyx Highlight and Contour Pro palette, followed by the blush. I used the teeniest amount, just to get a feel of how much to apply. I brushed it over the apples of my cheeks, but ended up having to add a little more, which resulted in a really nice, soft colour. I really like that it's buildable because it means that I can experiment a little more to see how much I like using, but I feel that it gave me a really healthy glow. I'm definitely going to be looking into blushes a little bit more, but don't be expecting anything insane just yet!This was a really great mini haul and it's lucky that I like everything I purchased after never trying them before. What made this trip even better was that the cashier found a £3 off voucher that someone had left behind, so instead of my transaction coming to £25, it only came to £22! I was so chuffed! If you're in the market for some new makeup, I definitely suggest getting yourself down to Boots to take a look at the 3 for 2 offer in No7. If makeup isn't your thing, they also do AMAZING nail varnishes!

Ahh I've only tried the micellar water but I'd love to have a look at more No7 skincare! The blush is lovely, despite the fact I was a little bit terrified of it, but it's so easy to wear and buildable! x

I LOVE No7 products, I think they are definitely underrated! I use the Stay Matte foundation and I bake my concealer under my eyes with the loose translucent powder every day. I just went in there and treated myself to the Protect and Perfect skincare kit. It is also all cruelty free!

Yes! I don't hear much about them, but their products are so good and deserve a lot more recognition! I think I'll be trying out the matte foundation next, but I'm really enjoying the Stay Perfect at the mo x

It's so fab! I think I'm going to try out the matte foundation next, but I really am loving using the Stay Perfect at the minute. The colour matching service is amazing - quick and free, and gives you a much better idea of the products that suit you! x

The Northernist is the ramblings of a twenty-something girl from up North. Fuelled by her love for writing, Olivia created this space on the web to chat about all the things she's passionate about, share recipes and speak to like-minded people. Expect more eyeshadows than anyone could ever need, an overflowing bookshelf and just a sprinkle of fairy dust.